Tweed Daily News poll finds most worried about budget

TWEED residents are overwhelmingly worried about the budget, according to a Tweed Daily News poll.

Hundreds voted to say the budget was worrying them in the Tweed.

TWEED residents are overwhelmingly worried about the budget, according to a Tweed Daily News poll.

Almost two weeks after it was handed down, 300 readers voted in our online survey this week with the majority rating the budget as "bad" and agreeing it would make their life hard.

Federal MP for Richmond Justine Elliot said she has faced an influx of concerned residents since it was handed down.

"A lot of people have approached me, especially the elderly," Mrs Elliot said.

The poll results.

"We've got families that are living week to week; they're worried about the family benefit and the young people are worried about uni fees. They're struggling."

Mrs Elliot said from an economic perspective, the tight budget would be devastating for the Tweed economy.

Tweed Nationals State MP Geoff Provest has promised ongoing negotiations between state and federal party members, and says while the budget is righting Labor's "wrongs" it "disappointed" him.

"I'm disappointed in the budget," Mr Provest said.

"I have spoken to 100 or so senior members from Tweed. We need to fix up Labor's mess but I don't like the way some of the things have come through, with doctor's co-payments as an example.

"There's a lot more negotiation that needs to be had and our premier is leading the way to ensure people can afford this budget."

Rob Garbutt, lecturer in Cultural Studies, School of Arts and Social Sciences at Southern Cross University, said the budget was making people anxious:

"The budget has introduced uncertainty in rural and regional areas such as Tweed. Psychologically, the budget forecasts are affecting people because they don't know which change will go through and which one won't. Anecdotally, this has stopped people in their tracks. It has provoked anxiety."

Mrs Elliot has organised a rally against the budget for 10am on Thursday, June 12, at Tweed Heads Civic Centre.